Positive suspension



Feb. 21, 1956 v. E. BAUM 2,735,169

POSITIVE SUSPENSION, LEVELING, AND ALIGNING METHOD Filed D80. 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. VlCTOR E. BAUM A T TORNEYS Feb. 21, 1956 v. E. BAUM 2,735,169

POSITIVE SUSPENSION, LEVELING, AND ALIGNING METHOD Filed Dec. 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- FIG. 3.

INVENTOR. VICTOR E. BAUM A T TORNE KS United States Patent POSITIVE SUSPENSION, LEVELING, AND ALIGNING METHOD Victor E. Baum, Great Bend, Karts.

Application December 11, 1951, Serial No. 261,013

4 Claims. (Cl. 29-458) This invention relates to a positive suspension, leveling, and aligning method. In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for setting heavy machinery, for example, oil well pumping machinery. In another aspect, the invention relates to apparatus for efiecting the above mentioned method of setting heavy machinery. In one embodiment, machinery is suspended over the desired location, a concrete foundation is poured up under the suspended machinery, the machinery is maintained suspended above the concrete foundation until the concrete has partially cured, the machinery is aligned and lowered into contact with the partially cured concrete so that at least part of the weight of the machinery rests on the concrete foundation thereby compressing same so as to compensate for contraction of the concrete during the curing period, the machinery is leveled and realigned while in said contact with the partially cured concrete, and the thus leveled and aligned machinery is maintained with said part of its weight resting on the concrete until the concrete has cured sufiiciently to support the total weight of the machinery. Apparatus hereinafter described which is particularly suited for performing the above mentioned method is within the scope of my invention.

In setting heavy machinery by presently known methods, the concrete foundation is poured around the anchor bolts, the anchor bolts being provided with grout tubes, and the foundation is allowed to completely set or cure. The grout tubes are necessary in present methods, among other reasons, because the anchor bolts cannot be positioned in exact alignment with the holes in the machinery before the concrete foundation is poured and therefore some adjustment of the position of the bolts is necessary when the machinery is lowered into position. In order to make such adjustments, it is necessary to provide a space between the bolts and the foundation so that the bolts can be bent to the desired position. The grout tubes are utilized in the present methods to keep a substantial portion of the bolts protected from the foundation and thereby provide this space.

When the foundation has completely cured, the machinery is set in position on the foundation and leveled by the use of shims. The anchor bolts and the machinery are then grouted in by working fresh concrete into the grout tubes and into the space between the concrete foundation and the machinery resulting from the leveling operation. Thus by presently known methods, the origina1 foundation must be completely cured before the machinery is set in position, the machinery must be leveled on the foundation by the use of shims, and the anchor bolts and machinery must be grouted in so as to provide a means for contact between the anchor bolts and the foundation on the one hand and between the machinery and the foundation on the other hand.

Machinery set according to the presently known methods as described above soon breaks loose from the foundation and breaks the anchor bolts due to fatigue stresses set up therein thereby necessitating a repair job in order to secure the machinery in position again. These 2,735,169 Patented Feb. 21, 1956 "ice various difiiculties encountered in presently known methods of setting machinery result in high expense and loss of much time and labor.

By the practice of my invention, the base of the machinery is suspended over the desired location, and the concrete foundation is poured up under the suspended machinery. When the concrete has partially set or cured, the machinery is aligned and lowered into position on the partially cured concrete so that at least part of the weight of the machinery rests on the foundation, thereby compressing the concrete to compensate for contraction thereof during the curing period. The machinery is then leveled and secured in position while it is thus partially suspended over the foundation and it is maintained thus partially suspended and partially resting on the foundation until the concrete has cured sufficiently to support the total weight of the machinery.

The practice of my invention avoids the difficulties encountered in the prior art in that valuable time and expense is saved because the concrete does not have to completely cure before the machinery is set in position. Also the anchor bolts and machinery do not have to be grouted in so as to provide desirable contact between the anchor bolts and foundation and between the machinery and foundation. Another advantage is that machinery set according to my invention does not break loose from the foundation and break the anchor bolts as does presently set machinery because firm, even, uniform contact between the original concrete foundation and the anchor bolts on the one hand and between the machinery and foundation on the other hand is obtained. These and other advantages to be realized by the practice of my invention will be apparent upon reading the accompanying discussion and disclosure.

An object of my invention is to provide a positive suspension, leveling, and aligning method.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method for setting heavy machinery, for example, oil well pumping machinery.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method for setting heavy machinery which will effect a substantial saving in labor, time, and cost over presently known methods.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method for setting heavy machinery wherein the anchor bolts and machinery do not have to be grouted in.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method for setting oil well pumping machinery wherein the machinery is set level with the weight evenly distributed over the foundation without the necessity of using shims with subsequent grouting to provide desired contact between the machinery and the foundation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method for setting oil well pumping machinery wherein the foundation does not have to completely cure before the machinery can be set in position on the foundation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method for setting oil well pumping machinery wherein the anchor bolts do not have to be bent in order to align them with the holes in the pumping machinery.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the discussion and disclosure herein contained.

According to my invention, a unit of heavy machinery mounted on a base, for example, oil well pumping machinery mounted on an I-beam base, is suspended over the desired site and the concrete foundation is poured up under the suspended machinery. It is often desirable to suspend only the I-beam base member before the concrete foundation is poured, and then assemble the pumping machinery on the suspended base member during the curing period of the concrete.

"When the concrete has partially cured, the machinery is alignedbyunoving it'transversely' or longitudinally as the case may demand, and thenthe machinery is lowered into position so that at least part of the weight of the machinery rests on the partially cured concrete. The machinery thus suspended and in contact with thepartially cured concrete is then leveled and realigned, if necessary, and secured to the foundation by securing the anchor bolts which are provided in the .foundation.

The extent of cure of the concrete occurring prior to the time that the machineryis lowered into position in contactwith'the concrete can vary widely and can be readily determined bythose skilled in the art for any particular application. I have found that the preferable state of cure usuallyoccurs when dehydration has progressedto such an extent thatwater collectson the surface of the foundation. However it is understood that this state of cure should not be taken to unduly limit my invention, the primary requirement in this respect being that the weightof the machinery will compress the concrete sufficiently. to compensate for contraction of the concrete during'the curing period and thereby provide firm, even, and uniform contact between the concrete and the anchor bolts onthe one hand and between the concrete and :the machinery on the other hand when the concrete has completely cured. In this connection it should be .noted' that the fraction or part of the total weight of the machinery whichis allowed to rest upon the partially cured concrete can also vary widely, depending on such factors as'the extent to which the concrete has cured prior to; lowering the machinery into contact with the concrete, the composition of the concrete, the total weight of the .machinery, and like factors. Again the primary require .ment is that sufiicient weight be placed on the partially cured concrete to compress it sufficiently to compensate for contraction during the curing period and maintain firm, even, and uniform contact between the anchor bolts and the concrete and between the machinery and the concrete.

When the machinery has been aligned and leveled in rosition upon the partially cured concrete as described above, the nuts on the anchor bolts can be drawn down. .The machinery is kept partiallysuspended in contact with .the concrete during the curing period until the concrete has set to such a degree that it can support the machinery withoutdanger'of permitting the machinery to get out .ofalignment or level when the rest of the weight of the machinery is released upon the foundation. 'Factors which affect the time interval required before the re- .maining weight of the machinery can be released upon "'thefoundation include, time required for the concrete to set, total weight of the machinery,.and like factors. The determination of the time interval required for any particular case is within the skill of those in the art upon reading the description and discussion herein given.

Having described the method of my invention for settingheavy machinery, I willnow describe apparatus forming a part of my invention which is particularly suited tocarry out this method. Thearrangement and cooperation of the various elements and means of one embodiment of the apparatus of my invention, comprising apparatus for setting oil well pumping machinery,

is shown in'the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus of my invention being utilized in the setting of oil well pumping machinery.

Fig.2 is an enlarged end view of the apparatus of Fig. 1. The pumping machinery has been omitted in order -to more clearly present the apparatus of my invention.

"Fig. 3 is a top view of the apparatus of. my invention, tbepumping machinery again being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partiallyin section of the suspending, leveling, and aligning means of my invention.

'Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the means illustrated in "Fig. 4.

The pumping machinery comprising walking beam 11, pump rod '12, engine 13; andwalkingb'eanrsupport 14 are secured to a base member by known means. The base member, composed of I-beams 21 which are spaced by cross-members 22, rests on concrete foundation 16 and is secured thereto by anchor bolts 17 through the lower flange of the I-beams-when the machinery is in the desired position.

Support members 20 are positioned' near each corner of the base, each support 'member having longitudinal adjusting means secured to the top-thereof. pEach longitudinal adjusting means comprises a bearing plate 31 secured to the top of support -members 20, flanges 32 depending upwardly from .plate 31, adjusting screws 33 threadedly engaging "flanges 32, and bearings 34 mounted on plate 31 between flanges 32 so as to extend above plate 31.

A pairof L-beams 19, placedv back to back. and spaced by members 39 to form channel 29'therebetween, extend laterally across I.-beams 21 near each end :thereof,.the L-beams riding on bearings 34 and being positionedby the action of screws 33 to providefor longitudinaladjustment of the machinery.

Threaded .shafts 24, having .tiger-toothed-lugs 25. de-

pending from one endthereof, are movably mounted on L-beams 19 inchannel 29 near each corner of .the machinery by washers 26. Thrust bearings 27,. andadjusting nuts 28. Each of lugs 25 engages the upper .ilange of I-beams 21 and carries the pumping machinery whenadjusting nuts 28 are advanced on shaft 24-.soas to bear against thrust bearings 27. When adjusting nuts .28 are advanced sufiiciently to suspend the machinery above the ground, the machinery can be aligned transversely by sliding washers 26 along L-beams 19, thereby carrying themachinery tothe desiredposition. It can alsobe seenthat the machinery can be leveled by selectively turning adjusting nuts 28 so as to raise or lower the corners of the machinery.

The following example wherein oil well pumping machinery is set according to the method ofmy invention,

utilizing the apparatusof my invention, will serve to further illustrate and describe the method and apparatus of my invention.

. Example I-beams 21, with the pumping machinery mounted thereon, are positioned sothat the machinery is in approxi- .rnate alignment with pump rod 12. Support members .20 are positionednear each corner of. the. machinery and .L-beams 19 are mounted thereon so as to .extend laterally across and above each end of I-beams 21, the ends of the L-beams-resting on bearings 34. Screws 33 are .then advanced so. as to engage .L-beams 19 and prevent movement thereof during thesuspending operation. The assembly is completed by mounting threaded shafts 24in cannel 29 on L-beams 19 with washers 26, thrust bearings.27, and adjusting nutsv 28, the mounting beingv ac- ..complished suchthat tiger-toothed lugs 25 engage-t11e .ing..adjusting screws. 33 to movehthe.machinerylongi- .tudinally..until it is .in alignment, vandthe machinery is .also aligned transversely with rod 12. bysIiding washers 26 along L-beams 19 until themachineryis intalignment .itransversely.

When the machinery has been thus aligned with rod 12, nuts 28 are backed ofi to lower the machinery into contact with the partially cured concrete. Sufiicient weight of the machinery is allowed to rest on the partially cured concrete to compensate for contraction thereof during the curing period so as to provide firm, even, and uniform contact between the anchor bolts and the concrete on the one hand and between the machinery and the concrete on the other hand. The machinery is then leveled by selectively adjusting nuts 28 to raise or lower te corners of the machinery as the case demands. The machinery is then checked for alignment with rod 12 and is realigned as described above if found to be out of alignment. After the machinery has thus been leveled and checked for alignment, the nuts on the anchor bolts are drawn down to secure the machinery in position. The machinery is maintained in this position of contact with the concrete until the concrete has cured sufficiently to support the entire weight of the machinery, at which time adjusting nuts 28 are backed off until lugs 25 are disengaged from I-beams 21, thereby releasing the total weight of the machinery on foundation 16.

Although I have described my invention with particular reference to the setting of oil well pumping machinery, it is understood that my invention is not to be unduly limited thereby, but rather by the appointed claims, as it is apparent that those skilled in the art can make changes in details of construction, arrangement, and operation herein set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

1 claim:

1. A method for setting machinery at a previously unprepared site, which comprises, suspending the machinery above the selected and unprepared site; pouring a con crete foundation up under the suspended machinery; maintaining said machinery suspended until said concrete has partially cured; aligning said machinery; and lowering said machinery into contact with said partially cured concrete so as to compress same to compensate for contraction thereof during the curing period.

2. A method for setting machinery at a previously unprepared site, which comprises, suspending the machinery above the selected and unprepared site; pouring a concrete foundation up under the suspended machinery; maintaining said machinery suspended above said concrete until it has become partially cured; aligning said machinery; lowering the machinery into contact with saidpartially cured concrete such that part of the weight of said machinery rests on said partially cured concrete so as to compress same to compensate for contraction thereof during its curing period; leveling said machinery while it is in said contact with the partially cured concrete; and maintaining the machinery with said part of its weight resting on the partially cured concrete until the concrete has become sufliciently cured to support the total weight of said machinery.

3. A method for setting machinery at a previously unprepared site, which comprises, suspending the machinery over its desired and previously unprepared site; pouring a concrete foundation up under the suspended ma chinery, said foundation being provided with anchor means therein for securing said machinery; maintaining said machinery suspended until said concrete has become partially cured; aligning said machinery; lowering said machinery into contact with said partially cured concrete such that a sufficient portion of the total Weight of the machinery rests on the partially cured concrete to compress same to compensate for contraction thereof during the curing period; leveling said machinery While thus in contact with said partially cured concrete; securing the machinery to said anchor means; and maintain ing said machinery in said position of contact with said concrete until the concrete has cured sufficiently to support the total weight of the machinery.

4. A method for setting oil well pumping machinery, said machinery comprising a base member and a pumping member, which comprises, suspending said base member over the desired site of the pumping machinery; pouring a concrete foundation up under the suspended base member, said concrete foundation being provided with anchor means for securing said machinery in its desired position; assembling said pumping member on said suspended base member; maintaining the assembled pumping machinery suspended over said concrete foundation until said concrete has partially cured; aligning the assembled machinery with a pump rod; lowering the assembled machinery into contact with said partially cured concrete such that a sufficient portion of the total weight of the assembled machinery rests on said partially cured concrete to maintain the concrete in intimate contact with said anchor means during the curing period of the concrete to compensate for contraction thereof; leveling and realigning said machinery while it is in said contact with said partially cured concrete; securing said anchor means to said machinery; and maintaining the machinery in said contact with the concrete until the concrete has cured sufiiciently to support said total weight of the machinery and maintain same level and aligned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,309,834 Yeomans July 18, 1919 1,514,607 Ellis Nov. 11, 1924 1,840,741 Reid Jan. 12, 1932 1,956,870 Mayer May 1, 1934 2,252,193 Meyer Aug. 12, 1941 2,427,604 Holter Sept. 16, 1947 2,524,413 Migula Oct. 3, 1950 2,569,612 Laurent Oct. 2, 1951 2,579,183 Freyssinet Dec. 18, 1951 

